Best Punta Cana All-Inclusive Resorts For Romantic Getaways

Whether you're planning a destination wedding, a honeymoon, or just a romantic getaway, these romantic resorts in Punta Cana offer a low-key, wallet-friendly setting. Here are our favorite Dominican Republic all-inclusive resorts for romantic getaways.

Zoetry Agua Punta Cana

Quiet and secluded, this boutique property ensures privacy in its 96 suites, which offer plenty of natural appeal, from thatch roofs and stonework to hardwood floors.

Destination Weddings
Zoetry hosts only one wedding per day — often only one per weekend — so the spotlight stays where it belongs: on the marrying couple. Get the run of the place with a full hotel buyout, popular here.

Honeymoons
Keep your camera-phone handy, as high-drama moments (think complimentary horseback riding on the beach) photograph well. Stay seven nights in one of several room categories, and you'll snag a free helicopter transfer either to or from the airport.

Occidental Grand Punta Cana Resort

This Spanish-owned brand delivers one of the world's top beaches at value prices: Off-season rates start at just $66 per person per night. Those wanting more luxury can upgrade to the Royal Club, which grants access to a beach area with wait service, as well as the Niki Bar and the VIP Royal Club Lounge restaurant overlooking the sea.

Destination Weddings
Brides have two options for wedding packages. Coral Mist includes a bamboo canopy on the beach, a bouquet and boutonniere, sparkling wine, and dinner and cake for 16 people. Upgrade to the Fiesta package for Moroccan lanterns, a cupcake tier for 20 guests and a couples massage.

Honeymoons
Choose from 10 room categories, including Grand Romance Deluxe Rooms, which come with a welcome bottle of cava, chocolate-covered strawberries, a first breakfast in bed, a one-hour in-room massage and a romantic beach dinner.

Paradisus Punta Cana

Renovated in early 2013, Paradisus Punta Cana now has modernized guest rooms while keeping the look and feel of a traditional Caribbean resort. Bonus: Bike paths wind through the mangroves.

Destination Weddings
Wed on the beach, in the garden or poolside. Then keep your party private by holding the reception at a location of your choice. We suggest the pool terrace, where Asian lanterns hang from the foliage, a breeze gently blows and pool lights give off a soft glow.

Honeymoons
Upgrade to adults-only Royal Service for a deluxe room with an ocean view, plus VIP beach seating, a private pool and the services of a butler who brings cocktails, magazines — whatever. It's ideal for couples whose families are staying for the week: You can steal away without seeming rude.

Iberostar Bavaro Suites

This beachside, budget-friendly property north of Punta Cana offers just one room category: the junior suite. A la carte dining at six restaurants, including Japanese, French and Dominican (plus room service), is unlimited. Tennis, windsurfing, kayaking and snorkeling are free; golf and scuba are add-ons.

Destination Weddings
Choose from three packages: The Gold Star package for up to 20 guests includes live music, a room-category upgrade, bridal hairstyling, cocktail hour, dinner and a 30-minute couples massage; additional guests are only $25 each.

Honeymoons
Night-owl newlyweds can shake it in the dance club, roll the dice in the casino or raise glasses in the sports bar until 3 a.m. Get psyched for theme nights, which can get pretty wild.

Barcelo Bavaro Beach

This 589-room, adults-only mega-property offers supersize amenities, such as a 350-seat theater, a semi-Olympic pool, a mini shopping mall and an 18-hole mini-golf course — plus access to its sister property's 24-hour casino and disco.

Destination Weddings
Engaged couples can select from six wedding packages and four wedding venues: beach, Catholic chapel, garden gazebo or oceanfront gazebo. The free package comes with a resort wedding specialist, as well as cake and sparkling wine for up to 10 people. Upgrades include bridal hair and makeup, bouquets, a three-piece guitar band for one hour, and dinner in a ballroom with a set menu.

Honeymoons
The free honeymoon package lures newlyweds with a room-category upgrade, breakfast in bed the morning after arrival, a fruit basket and sparking wine. Next-level add-ons range from a romantic dinner on the beach to a 25-minute couples massage.

BlueBay Villas Doradas

The aesthetic of this adults-only, 245-room resort outside Puerto Plata is clean and Spartan; the price point is pretty much unbeatable. Rates as low as $53 per person per night include unlimited domestic drinks and alcohol, plus dining at four restaurants, a snack bar and a creperie.

Destination Weddings
The free package applies to just the wedding couple (no guests). Three other packages include the basics. The property also has a church, so a symbolic religious ceremony is possible.

Honeymoons
You'll return home with new skills: Massage, cocktail-mixing and scuba classes are all included. So are merengue lessons, which you can bust out at the onsite Areito Discotheque.

Dreams Palm Beach Punta Cana

At this family-friendly property, completely revamped in April 2012, guests enjoy pool and beach wait service and unlimited top-shelf liquor — plus the serenity that comes with childcare and a youth zone for ages 13 to 17.

Destination Weddings
A private beachside setting guarantees that no bikinis (other than perhaps the bride's) will be in the photos. The space holds 200 and offers plated food as an option.

Honeymoons
Dreams Palm Beach extends the amenities of a much larger resort — a la carte dining, tons of activities like dance lessons and tennis — yet has an intimate vibe.

Excellence Punta Cana

Two massive pools wind throughout this all-suite property, granting nearly every ground-floor room direct access to a dip. Each suite also gives guests the option of soaking indoors in a whirlpool bathtub or outside in the private patio's HydroSpa pool.

Destination Weddings
A horse-drawn carriage escorts the bride to the ceremony on the beach or under the seaside gazebo; the ride is included in all three wedding packages, which start at $850 for 10 guests.

Honeymoons
Active couples will appreciate the diversity of onsite amenities, such as bicycles, three lit tennis courts, a jogging course, air-rifle shooting and a grass mini-golf course. One horseback ride and one introductory scuba lesson are also included.

Grand Palladium Bavaro Suites Resort & Spa

It's not exactly a jungle trek a la Romancing the Stone, but the property's eco-trail leaves hikers with a deeper appreciation for native flora and fauna. The resort is big on local touches: From the onsite mini zoo to the palapa pool bars, you'll definitely feel like you're in the Dominican Republic.

Destination Weddings
New York designer Karen Bussen created Palladium wedding packages to be fully customizable. Brides pick from five bouquets, including the Bohemian with white lilies and feathers.

Honeymoons
The complimentary honeymoon package includes sparkling wine, breakfast in bed, room service and special concierge service for restaurant reservations.

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana

Rock-star life meets Caribbean: Indoor perks include a Vegas-style casino and nightclub, plus 24-hour in-room dining. Outside, the party continues with four swim-up bars spread among 12 pools, including the Isla Pool pulsating with Latin music, the quieter Library Pool and the clothing-optional Eden Pool.

Destination Weddings
Designer Colin Cowie's nine wedding packages are exclusive to Hard Rock. Plus, every overnight stay and wedding package comes with hotel credits: Your guests who stay three nights gain $500 to spend onsite.

Honeymoons
Cowie's three honeymoon packages start with complimentary offerings like a private dinner for two, sparkling wine and a mini cake. Upgrade to receive a sensual chocolate body-paint kit, plush bathrobes and VIP concierge service.

Iberostar Punta Cana

At this Punta Cana property — the brand's most budget-conscious — rooms start at just $81 per person per night. Two buffet restaurants and five a la carte experiences, including a steak house, cater to a range of tastes.

Destination Weddings
You won't need to whittle the invite list: With three meeting spaces, this 427-room all-inclusive can accommodate parties up to 440 people.

Honeymoons
With all the money you'll save, you're free to play big at the resort's casino. Or dive into married life with onsite scuba lessons.

Melia Caribe Tropical

This family-friendly property redefines vast, comprising 1,138 rooms, three buffets, 10 a la carte restaurants and 10 pools. In late 2013, the areas dedicated to the Royal Level — aka buy-in VIP service — underwent a renovation.

Destination Weddings
The free wedding package accommodates up to 12 guests. Upgrade to the Tides wedding package to nab dinner for 24 guests in one of the a la carte restaurants.

Honeymoons
You may want to forgo the two standard honeymoon-package choices in favor of Royal Level service: Whatever romantic excursion or in-room romantic detail you envision, your butler makes it happen.

Now Larimar Punta Cana

This 730-room resort caters to a young, active crowd ready to take on the rock-climbing wall, the bungee trampoline, the bowling alley, big-screen movies on the beach, and archery.

Destination Weddings
Now Larimar offers childcare and a teen zone, so there's no need to leave the kids at home. Want a grown-up reception? Adults-only sister property Secrets Royal Beach is right next door.

Honeymoons
The just-wed will relish the private dinner-on-the-beach experience, as well as Eclipse, the rooftop lounge with live music.

Paradisus Palma Real Resort

One of Paradisus' newer properties with a more modern aesthetic, Palma Real delivers the level of service you'd expect from a luxury hotel. Bartenders at the lobby bar have been there since the beginning — and are partly to thank for the resort's high return rate. The grounds are very walkable (no need for golf carts) and feature eight restaurants, including Passion, run by a Michelin-star-earning chef.

Destination Weddings
Gabi Beach Club — with its privacy and South Beach vibe — is by far the resort's most popular wedding venue. The two-story location can be rented out for the evening to accommodate up to 120 guests.

Honeymoons
One of two honeymoon packages, Say Yes includes live music during your private beachside dinner for two. Spoiler alert: While you feed each other a three-course meal, resort butlers decorate your suite with rose petals.

Secrets Royal Beach Punta Cana

This adults-only, 465-room resort aims to please with a sexy vibe throughout: Lounges have white, modern furniture, and ample thought has been given to mood lighting. Pool and beach wait service adds pampering to the mix.

Destination Weddings
For an ocean backdrop at your ceremony — sans strangers on the beach — opt for the rooftop gazebo.

Honeymoons
Most honeymooners don't want to see children while on holiday, and Secrets accommodates. Steal away to an intimate nook like the private beachside palapa, where couples massages are offered (schedule to coordinate with sunset).